Redskins DE Jarvis Jenkins suspended for PED violation

By John Breech | CBSSports.com

July 26, 2013 4:19 PM ET

Redskins defensive end Jarvis Jenkins has been suspended for the first four games of the 2013 season. (USATSI)

Washington Redskins defensive end Jarvis Jenkins has been suspended for the first four games of the 2013 season after violating the NFL policy on performance-enhancing substances, the league announced on Friday.

Jenkins will miss Washington home games against Philadelphia and Detroit and road games against Green Bay and Oakland. The 25-year-old defensive end will be eligible to return to the team after the Redskins Sept. 29, Week 4 game at Oakland.

"When I learned that I tested positive for a substance that is banned under the NFL policy, I was shocked and confused. It's an obscure substance that I've never even heard of, and I still don't know how it got into my body," Jenkins said in a statement. "My only guess is that it came from one of the supplements I was taking around the time of the test, even though none of them listed anything banned."

Jenkins told 106.7-FM the Fan in Washington DC that the NFL tells players to only take supplements with a union-sanctioned label on it. The supplement Jenkins took did not have this label.

Jenkins, a second-round pick of the Redskins in 2011, started in 14 of Washington's 16 regular season games last season after missing all 16 games in 2011 with a torn ACL.

"I'm very sorry for the effect of this situation on my teammates and coaches, and I also apologize to my family and all Redskins fans," Jenkins said. "I will be very, very ready to contribute as soon as I get back for Game 5."

Although Jenkins is suspended for the first four weeks of the regular season, he is eligible for offseason practices and to participate in preseason games.